Swing designed to promote attunement between child and caretaker

Abstract

The present invention provides a swing that is operable to promote attunement between a child and caretaker. The swing comprises two seats, one of the two seats being configured to be occupied by a caretaker, such as a parent, and another of the two seats being configured to be occupied by a child. The two seats are arranged so that the caretaker and the child can face one another and comfortably see each other's eyes. The two seats are also configured such that, during operation of the swing, both the caretaker and child share the experience of swinging. Thus, using the swing of at least one embodiment of the present invention, a caretaker and child may share the mutual enjoyment of the swinging action while maintaining eye contact with one another, resulting in attunement.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A swing comprising:
 a first seat and a second seat, the first seat and the second seat differing from one another in that the first seat is configured to accommodate an adult and the second seat is configured to accommodate a child; 
 a connector configured to join the first seat and the second seat such that the first seat and the second seat undergo a shared swinging motion during operation of the swing, wherein the connector has at least a first end and a second end, with the first seat being attached to the first end and the second seat being attached to the second end; 
 wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged such that an occupant of the first seat and an occupant of the second seat face one another during operation of the swing; 
 wherein the connector comprises two spaced apart bars extending upward and which are configured for gripping by a child occupant of the second seat. 
 
     
     
       2. The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the second seat comprises at least a lower element on which the child occupant of the second seat sits and an upper element that provides a restraint on at least the backward and lateral movement of the occupant. 
     
     
       3. The swing of  claim 2 , wherein the first seat has no restraint on the backward movement of an adult occupant of the first seat. 
     
     
       4. The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the first seat and the second seat are spaced apart horizontally between about six and about eighteen inches. 
     
     
       5. The swing of  claim 1 , in which the second seat is higher off the ground than the first seat. 
     
     
       6. The swing of  claim 5 , wherein the first seat is vertically disposed between about 6 inches and about 16 inches below the second seat. 
     
     
       7. The swing of  claim 6 , wherein the first seat is vertically disposed between about 9 inches and about 13 inches below the second seat. 
     
     
       8. The swing of  claim 5 , wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged such that an adult occupant of the first seat and a child occupant of the second seat face one another at a common eye level. 
     
     
       9. The swing of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two suspension points. 
     
     
       10. The swing of  claim 9 , wherein a suspension point is positioned at an upper end of each of the two spaced apart bars. 
     
     
       11. The swing of  claim 10 , further comprising a stabilizer at the upper end of the two spaced apart bars. 
     
     
       12. The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a straight structure that provides horizontal spacing between the first seat and the second seat. 
     
     
       13. The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the connector does not interfere with the sightline between the occupant of the first seat and the occupant of the second seat. 
     
     
       14. The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the second seat is configured to accommodate a toddler. 
     
     
       15. The swing of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a piped framework. 
     
     
       16. A swing comprising:
 a first seat and a second seat, the first seat and the second seat differing from one another in that the first seat is configured to accommodate an adult and the second seat is configured to accommodate a child; 
 a connector configured to join the first seat and the second seat such that the first seat and the second seat undergo a shared swinging motion during operation of the swing; 
 wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged such that an occupant of the first seat and an occupant of the second seat face one another during operation of the swing; 
 wherein the connector comprises two spaced apart bars extending upward and which are configured for gripping by a child occupant of the second seat; 
 wherein the second seat comprises at least a lower element on which a child occupant of the second seat sits and an upper element that provides a restraint on at least the backward and lateral movement of the occupant; and 
 wherein the first seat has no restraint on the backward movement of an adult occupant of the first seat. 
 
     
     
       17. A swing comprising:
 a first seat and a second seat, the first seat and the second seat differing from one another in that the first seat is configured to accommodate an adult and the second seat is configured to accommodate a child; 
 a connector configured to join the first seat and the second seat such that the first seat and the second seat undergo a shared swinging motion during operation of the swing; 
 wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged such that an occupant of the first seat and an occupant of the second seat face one another during operation of the swing; 
 wherein the connector comprises two spaced apart bars extending upward and which are configured for gripping by a child occupant of the second seat; and 
 wherein the second seat is higher off the ground than the first seat. 
 
     
     
       18. The swing of  claim 17 , wherein the first seat is vertically disposed between about 6 inches and about 16 inches below the second seat. 
     
     
       19. The swing of  claim 17 , wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged such that an adult occupant of the first seat and a child occupant of the second seat face one another at a common eye level.